Company recalls pet treats linked to human infections

Jun 13, 2005 (CIDRAP News)  A company is recalling its dog and cat treats because they contain bacteria linked to the illnesses of five people.

T.W. Enterprises of Ferndale, Wash., is recalling six different dog and cat treats in the wake of cases of Salmonella serotype Thompson infections identified in Canada and the United States, according to a press release on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Web site.

"Follow-up analysis indicated that the illnesses were linked to these pet treats," according to the release, posted by T.W. Enterprises.

The company, the FDA and Canadian authorities are investigating to find the source of the problem, the news release said.

T.W. Enterprises made the treats and distributed them in the United States under the name Aron Pet Food. Aron Pet Food of Abbotsford, British Columbia, distributed products in Canada that were made with raw materials from T.W. Enterprises, the announcement said.

People who have any of the following products were advised not to feed the treats to their pets but to dispose of them securely: Healthy K9 Beef Heart 100% Natural Dog Treats, Healthy K9 Beef Jerkey 100% Natural Dog Treats, Shrimp Snackers 100% Shrimp Treats for Dogs, Salmon Snackers 100% Salmon Treats for Cats, Salmon Snackers 100% Salmon Treats for Dogs, and Shrimp Snackers 100% Shrimp Treats for Cats.

The company urged people to wash their hands thoroughly after handling any pet treat to help prevent infection.

Salmonella infections can cause watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, and an illness of several days' duration.